An explanation of how I rate and review books…

I originally posted this here on Facebook but wanted to include it on the blog too. I’ve had a few people ask me about this so I wanted to make a public post to answer it for anyone else who was wondering too…

Ok, here goes: I do not tell you guys about every book I read. I only tell you about the ones that I either LOVE or like a whole lot.

The reason for this is that I like to keep the vibe of my blog positive. If I’m reading a book and I’m just not feeling it, I’ll honestly usually just stop and move on to something else. I’m a “mood reader” and I’m also always on the constant search for a book that makes me want to shout from the rooftops about how much I’m in LOOOOVE with it. That certainly doesn’t happen with every book, but those usually are the only books I tell you guys about.

I’ve changed the way I’ve done things over the years (for example: I used to review everything I read) but at this point, I generally only feel motivated to review books if they make me want to talk about them. Why? Because there are literally SO many books out there that I want to spend my time on the ones I feel passionately about.

If I don’t enjoy a book, I’ll simply quietly move on. And I’ll keep searching and reading and then, when I find the next one that makes my heart RACE, I’ll make one of those excited posts you’re all used to seeing about how much I loved it. But I really wanted to clarify that I do NOT throw around high ratings, and I don’t like (or even finish) every book I read.

If you go see my review requests page, you’ll see just HOW much detail I ask about every book I consider reading (and if I find the book on my own, I’ll hunt down those answers anyways) so generally, once I start a book, there IS a good chance I’ll enjoy it because I’ve usually asked SO many questions about it’s content that really the things that determine how I feel about it are usually the writing and story development.

I’m really picky about the books I love but my general blog policy is that I’m loud about what I love, and quiet about what I don’t. That’s NOT at all the way I think all blogs should be, nor is it a judgment on anyone who does things differently. This is simply the way that keeps me happy, keeps my blog environment positive, and also essentially makes my blog more into a “recommendations zone” rather than a straight-up chronicle of my reading life… My blogging has evolved a lot since I started in 2012 and what I’ve discovered is that this is the way that just makes me happiest.

For anyone who was wondering, I hope this helps explain things. 🙂

Oh, and I just wanted to add a huge thank you to all the readers who commented on the original Facebook post (and now here) about this. I love hearing back from you guys and your responses were deeply heart-warming and very much appreciated.

I remember when you first started blogging, I’ve followed your blog since then and love that you have the same taste in books as me. Thank you for being picky. And thank you for keeping things positive.

I am so much the same. I only review books that I can leave a positive review for. I have no desire to leave a nasty review, or one that might hurt the author. And since I am not a blogger and most books I read are books that I purchased and chose to read on my own, I feel no reason to leave a review if I have negative thoughts about it. But, I am pretty easy going so I really enjoy most books I read.
I 100% appreciate that you are on a positive vibe only blog. I think I love your blog so much more now. (Not that I didn’t before, but, I LOVE people who spread positivity). Thank you for being that way. Please never change.

I’m so glad to hear this, Mimi! I promise not to change this and I really feel the same way. If I don’t like a book, that’s totally fine. I’ll just leave it to those who do love it and move onto a new one that I love and can feel good raving about 😀

A great big thank you for all of your reviews. Whenever I want to read an exceptional book I head straight for your blog or your goodreads account to check out your top five reads. I average about a book a day, yes a book a day. So I appreciate the fact that you do all the work for me! Thanks so much for your great reviews. I know I can always count on you!

Thank you for sharing. I, too, am quiet about books that just don’t do it for me. If I love a book, I make sure to spread the love about it. I follow your blog and I almost always love the books you suggest. Thank you for what you do! 🙂

Thank you for taking the time to voice my exact opinion. I enjoy your blog and recommendations. You are diligent in keeping the news and your recommendations fresh and accurate.
It’s a little exciting for me to see your email and postings on facebook
Great job!

Thank You, this was interesting. I think what resonated most with me was your intent to keep the “vibe” positive. That aligns with my core values and makes what you write about so much more meaningful and we’ll worth my time.

I appreciate that you only leave reviews on the books you loved. People have asked why I don’t leave reviews on all the books I read and I too don’t feel it’s necessary to be negative about the things I read. Loving a book is subjective and my tastes are not necessarily the same as others. You’ve got a great blog and I stalk you everywhere lol… I really have enjoyed your suggestions and although you’ve made me develop trigger finger with the one clicking!msleep and food is over rated! Thank you for the many book hangovers I’ve experienced.
Keep the reviews and recommendations coming.

I’m really glad you wrote this explanation! And I’m also very happy with the way you keep your blog positive and enthusiastic! It is a happy little bubble of love and sunshine that always feels separated from the real world, making it a nice escape from the drama of everyday life. You also helped me see past my heartbreak and anger and find empathy and forgiveness for characters in times when I wasn’t able to on my own. *cough*The Summer Garden*cough*

You and I have very similar taste in books, and I don’t have anywhere near as much time to read as I would like, so I am constantly using you as a source of recommendations. I have really liked all but two books that I have read based on your recommendation, and there a bunch that I just straight up LOVED (here’s lookin’ at you The Bronze Horseman, The Mason List, Archer’s Voice, Fisher’s Light, and Rock Chicks!).

And as a side note, I especially love the way you categorize the books. My most frequent go-to is the 6 star page! 🙂

I like your style! It’s an honest way to review/recommend books you love, and your blog readers know we can respect your opinions — that they’re real. Thanks for this post. I’d missed it on Facebook and appreciated the nudge over here.
xo Nancy

I love your blog and get alot of good book recommendations from it, like Bad Romeo! Loved it! I like your outlook on what you will and won’t write reviews on in your blog too. Always best to be positive than negative, but I do wonder on some of the books that are published, and you don’t particulary care for them, why. Keep up the great reading!

I love your blog! I really love the concept and feel of it. It’s always nice to be positive and not negative. I like how you said it’s more of recommendations then your reading history. Keep up the great work!

Thanks, Jill! I think it was when I came to the realization that I wanted it to be more of a recommendations zone, that I really became the happiest. It feels good to have this place full of books I love and books that other people are falling in love with 🙂

Thanks for clarifying. I did used to think “damn she likes every book she reads.” I can completely understand wanting to keep your blog positive. Although I do think it’s helpful to read negative reviews at times. But constructive. Not judgmental and mean ones. Thanks for all you do. <3

You’re very welcome! Yeah, there are a many books I either read or read part of that just don’t work for me at all and I never mention. The thing is though that I’m also a verrrrrry fast reader so the turnover is fast enough that it *can* potentially seem like I love everything which is just so far from the truth. So I felt the need to clarify. 🙂

Christina, I totally agree with you about negative reviews. They can be very helpful when I’m trying to decide if I should read a book or not. When I leave one its not my intention to make the author feel bad. I just try and express why a book didn’t work for me in a non judgemental way. There’s no point in leaving book reviews if the only ones being left are all 5 stars. I always look at the negative ones first hoping they mention something constructive like there was cheating or a love triangle, which are things I try and avoid. If they just say “this book sucked” I pay it no attention. That being said, I like Aestas policy of only reviewing books she loves. I know what she looks for in books and I have the same criteria so I know when she loves something I’m gonna read something good.

I actually agree with you, I like seeing negative reviews sometimes too — they can be helpful! — but just because my platform here is so large (right now, this blog gets a solid average of 550,000 to 750,000 monthly hits, and sometimes more), I don’t have the heart to review a book that I just totally didn’t like. If I decide to review a book, then I will be completely open and honest about all my feelings about it (even the negative things), but basically, if I don’t have more positive than negative things to say, I’ll just move on quietly. I guess I kind of let my silence speak for me instead and focus on spotlighting the books that have things I love in them 🙂

I get it and that’s why I love your blog. When I look at the reviews on Amazon, I read the positive and negative because I don’t feel I can always trust just the 5 star reviews. As far as book blogs go, I now only follow you and one other blog though your blog is my favorite. First of all, your criteria when choosing a book is pretty much the same as mine and second of all, your blog is simply the best! I find it so easy to navigate and full of great information. The amount of traffic your blog gets just proves what a great job you’re doing. Thanks so much!!!

Thank you soooo much for your explanations. I have ALWAYS wondered how blogs determined ALL of this. I read just about everything but I have a hard time stopping a book EVER. When I have time, I can read at least a book a day. I LOVE your blog and wish I could pick up EVERYTHING!! Thank you for ALL YOU DO!!

Thank you for letting us newbies in on how a book is chosen. I too read books that are not on your reading list (Bad Boy/Alpha Male Motorcycle Club types) so when my mood changes, I come over to your world and see what you are reading.

99.9% Of the books I read are through your recommendations! I never read blurbs, I go by the cover or hear say. I cried buckets at the last book I read due to your recommendation, the nightingale. Thank you very much for all your hard work its extremely appreciated.

I love your blog!!! I read a lot of the books you post. It’s always refreshing to see how you feel and what book you like the most. And you are always spot on with the books you post. I love to read and am always looking for new books, so once I get the email from your blog I get so excited. LOL. Thank you for all you do!!!

I agree with you wholeheartedly. I know the effort that goes into writing a book, and when I truly do not enjoy an author’s work I figure that my opinion isn’t the end all and be all-someone else might love it-and also, I don’t ever want to be the voice that discourages someone from writing if that is what they love to do.
BTW, just read Consolation based on your recommendation and loved it! Another great pick.

I never thought I was going to be one of those people who reads this genre but I found myself completely involved after reading Fifty. I joined Goodreads and your name was on almost all the reviews of the books that looked interesting. I have tried to look at other bloggers but I find that I LOVE yours the best! We have pretty similar tastes in books and I enjoy your down to earth reviews! You make me laugh and you get me excited to read the books! I was actually wondering about not having negative reviews on your blog but then I thought it was due to some fans being so crazy when it comes to negative reviews that I thought you would want to stay out of that mix. Whatever you decide, I love it and I will always follow you! Thank you for immersing me more and more into this genre!

I love your enthusiastic posts!! Like you, if I don’t like a book much I either don’t finish it or don’t review it because I am a believer that if I don’t have anything good to say it’s better to say nothing! Keep up the great work!!

I’m 36 years old, mother of 2 daughter’s and a Army Wife (who’s hubby been deployed since September.) I started reading in my 20s which lasted only a few books. Like everyone else my first “holy hell books freaking rock” was Fifty Shades which i only read because I felt like I was out of my girlfriend chit chat loop cause i had no clue what the hell they were talking about. I got hooked and didn’t know how to search for another book with similarities or one that keep me up all hours of the night. I came across your blog when I googled requested “book blogs” and my passion for books skyrocketed. I love the passion,laughs, and just getting lost in a world outside of your own daily chaos. A can guarantee there has been a week in the past 2 years that I haven’t read your blog. Thank you for introducing me to all the wonderful stories and the passion book can offer 🙂

You’re so very welcome! I agree with you that we basically read to get lost in another world so that’s why I like posting the ones I love best in hopes that other people will fall in love with them too 😀

Thank you for sharing. I’ve been a follower of your blog for at least 2 yrs now & I enjoy reading your reviews. I can tell you enjoy reading as much as I do. You have “helped” me with my reading selections & I cannot thank you enough for your blog & the efforts you put into it.

I think that its fine how you review – you are right in saying we evolve, you started way before I did, and I am in no way as followed as you are, but I am also getting to the stage where I am getting swamped, and burn’t out reading everything I am sent. Speaking to another blogger who also has a strict way of running her blog made me realise its ok to evolve and change the way we do things, so I have some decisions to make in the future. But thanks for letting your followers know, as it made me feel ok in getting to that stage where I take in my considerations into the mix 😀

Thanks, Kat! I’m glad it helped to read this. Definitely I think the most important thing as a blogger (as this was something I learned as I went) is that you have to do it in a way that makes YOU happy. Everything else will fall into place from there. 🙂

It’s so interesting because I have a blog and I think same way as you.
I read a lot of books (a lot of them asked by the authors for me making a review about them), but before I start to read any request, I warn them I ONLY review what I DO LIKE, on another words, what I can give 3 stars or more. If the story was too weak, sorry, I pass. But I rate something on my GR account…

Your blog KICKS ASS!!! I like that if you can’t finish a book or you can’t get into you put it aside and we never hear about it! Instead some other bloggers will give it a five star review just to get out noticed. Give me your truth any day!! Because I get most of my recomindations from you blog!!!
Keep Kicking Ass,
Kim

Thank you for this!!! You are my number 1 spot I check for rec’s because if you like it, I usually do too:)). Do what makes you happy. I know a bad read can put me in a funk and I like to move on and not dwell on it. Thanks for explaining and for all you do:))))

I will not raed a book unless u have reviewed it. Having said that, I’ll say that before I stumbled upon your wonderful site, i was reading anything. I have tried to do the ‘books similar to your liking’ but it doesn’t work for me. I am truly thankful for every single one of your reviews. And I’m sure B&N is also thankful because I have added over 100 books to my nook library since discovering your blog. So thank you for all the reviews and recommendations!! Please keep it up

Dear Aestas, I found this quote and I think it perfectly explains everything… “Life is too short to waste it on negativity. Take deep breaths and let it out. Change it to a positive. Be healthy, happy, loving. Watch the miracles that happen before your eyes. Be a role model, a leader, an inspiration. Change this world for the greater good. There is too much negativity in this life. Change it to positive. No such thing as negativity anymore. Just stop it. That’s all. You have the power to create a magnificent life. Just do it. 🙂 ”
– Unknown
Aestas, not only for me but all the readers that follow your blog, you’re this role model, the leader, the inspiration. Thank you so much for this! Big hugs to you! ❤️❤️❤️
P. S. Life is too short to waste it on bad books, as well

I have followed your blog for a very long time. And I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the work that you do. You, along with other bloggers, do the kind of work that I could never do. I do not have the words; or maybe I do but I can’t put them on the page, like you do, in a way that makes a reader want to one click right away! There is only one question I have, would it be possible to have a search area. So the reader can search your archive for a book that was published in 2012 on? I buy lots of books. I do review some; not all. We don’t all like the same books, but I would like to see if you did review a book I had read, and if you thought the same as I did. So glad you do have this blog. I rate it : five stars!

Hey, if you don’t have Facebook, then be sure to check out the “Hourly Updates” tab on my blog (there’s a pink link on my header bar, or you can bookmark it here: http://aestasbookblog.com/updates/) because I post all the main “latest news” from Facebook there. Just will help you stay even more up to date!

Thank you so much for all your fantastic recommendations! I know how much you love KA books. It was you that helped me discover all her books and they are amazing. I know you have the Aces MC series set on the sale list, but if you have not read these books you really should. It is my recommendation to you. I could not put these down until the very last word was finished. Thank you again!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your blog, your reviews, yeah, basically you ARE the BOMB when it comes to the reading world, in my opinion anyways, lol. I read your posts, reviews on a daily basis and always look forward to seeing what you think about books, authors as well as recommendations… You do an awesome job and you do a whole lot that I am sure at times feels overwhelming BUT you do it perfectly and you put so much of your time and efforts and thoughts into what you put out there for us dedicated readers and I want you to know that I truly appreciate it and I appreciate your love of books. You are a very generous person and please, please keep up ALL of your continued great work you do for us:)

I have come to really rely on your blog for my go to books. I share many of your opinions on types of books, content and ratings so now I just look through what’s new on your list and I go there! It’s great to have that kind of reliable resource. Also, your reviews are so expressive and articulate- I’m kind of a fan of your writing! 🙂 Anyway, my last thought is that in reading how you rate and review books, it has made me feel less guilty about not reviewing each one that I read. I don’t always feel comfortable leaving a review with all my dislikes or problems with it. Sometimes it’s ok but for the most part I am in awe of authors and their ability to transform their imaginations to written word and I appreciate their efforts…so thanks you for that reinforcement! Love your blog and I really appreciate your own writing and dedication to your fans! Thank you!

I LOVE YOUR BLOG IT HAS HELPED ALOT. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AND LET U KNOW WE APPRECIATE IT 🙂 IM AN AVID BOOK READER, I LITERALLY READ A BOOK A DAY THEN I RECOMMEND TO FRIENDS WHAT TO READ BUT YOU DO IT ON A MUCH LARGER SCALE THAT IS SOO ORGANISED. <3 <3 🙂

It’s crazy how I agree with EVERYTHING you say on this page! Reading is pure entertainment for me and if I’m not enjoying a book, I’ll just stop and read one that I’m interested in. Love seeing that I’m not the only one with that opinion. Keep up the positivity on your blog because it’s honestly just a really good time on here! xxx

I just love how positive this policy is. I love reading your blog and reviews and literally can’t wait to get your emails on a daily basis regarding the upcoming releases and sales and everything and more that’s books. Your blog inspired me to start my own blog as well (I am on the process of it anyways) and I can only hope to have it as successful as yours. 🙂

I love this. I review with a similar policy, staying honest but kind. If I know the author, rather than give a poor review I’d rather give them feedback, otherwise I usually don’t finish a book I don’t like, so I don’t bother reviewing it. As for the books I love, my special kind of awkward comes out and I go overly enthusiastic, shouting from the rooftops. Okay, maybe not from the rooftops, but definitely with gifs on Twitter. 🙂 Books are the best, and so are respectful reviewers. Kudos to you and your blog.

I see the point you’re coming from, and completely respect the positive vibe mindset. I do the opposite of what you do, I also list why I didn’t like some books, hoping the writers will read and understand the criticism as negative feedback is upsetting but also a great way to know what you could be doing better. My mum is a writer and she always want to hear the negative feedback – I am her reviewer for the things she writes 🙂

I think it is equally important to warn people, if you think that a book is not really that good or has some upsetting themes etc..

In theory I agree with you, however my way of doing exactly that is by NOT posting books that I don’t like or that I find upsetting. Sometimes you don’t have to come right out and say “I don’t like this book” in order to make a statement. I’m highly selective about the books I post on my blog’s new releases lists and sales list. If I don’t like the sound of a book, or if I’ve read a book and not liked it, you’ll never see it posted on any of my lists. That’s my way of doing what you’re talking about.

As for giving basically “constructive criticism” to authors, that’s simply not my job. I’m here to bring books I love and recommend to readers, but not to help authors write better books. I only review books that I loved enough to recommend. So yes, sometimes there will be critiques in there and if there is something worth mentioning to the readers, I certainly do mention it. But I only review books that I rate higher than 4 stars, so by the nature of that rating, there usually isn’t all that much that I have to critique — it’s mostly a positive feeling I have towards the book.

I also like to keep the tone of my blog positive always. So basically I go by the advice that my mom brought me up with “If you don’t have anything nice to say about something, don’t say anything at all.” 🙂